The University of Southern Indiana menís soccer team started the 2004 campaign with a 5-0 victory over Harris Stowe State College Friday evening at Strassweg Field. The victory marked the first time since 1999 that USI has started the year with a victory.

The Eagles were led by three freshman, who scored four of the five USI tallies. Freshman forward Evan Stoll (Washington, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles with a pair of goals and one assists.

Stoll started the scoring 34:41 into the match by ricocheting a shot off HSSC goalkeeper Derek Hubenthal. The freshman was put in position for his first collegiate goal by a pass from senior midfielder Greg Dingrando (Marion, Illinois).

Freshman forward Jay Whitney (Chrisney, Indiana) put the Eagles up 2-0 with an unassisted goal 37:25 into the match. That would be all of the scoring at halftime as USI took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

USI did not wait long to get back on the board in the second half as freshman forward Michael Dugger (Hanson, Kentucky) scored his first collegiate goal at the 47:10 mark off a pass from Stoll.

Sophomore forward Tyler Dallas scored USIís only goal not to come from a freshman on a break-away at 54:12. Freshman back Sam Gelven (St. Louis, Missouri) picked up the assist by slipping a pass to Dallas down the middle of the field for the break-away.

Stoll finished the scoring for the Eagles at the 72:15 mark, finding the back of the goal off of a cross by freshman midfielder Jason Blose (Longmont, Colorado), who picked up his first collegiate assist.

USI will complete its season-opening homestand Sunday when Columbia College visits Strassweg Field for a 2 p.m. match. This will be the first time that USI Head Coach Dan Hogan has faced his old school. Hogan was 122-60-8 in nine seasons at the helm of Columbia.